The department of radiology is in transition since David B. Hinshaw Jr. ’71 stepped down as chairperson after three decades of service. In his place, Loma Linda University (LLU) has appointed J. Paul Jacobson, MD, MPH, FACR, as the new chairperson. Dr. Jacobson looks forward to the challenge of transitioning the majority of the radiology department to its new location in the newly constructed LLU Medical Center tower. The new location is strategically placed adjacent to the emergency department to provide timely care.

The new radiology department will be equipped with three CT scanners, two MRI scanners, and new ultrasound, nuclear medicine, and general diagnostic equipment. In anticipation of an increase in clinical demands and staff turnover, six new faculty members have been recruited. Four of the six recruits are School of Medicine alumni: Jennifer N. Burns-Benggon ’15 (neuroradiology), Yuki Miura ’16 (abdominal and nuclear radiology), Gene Kitamura ’10 (musculoskeletal radiology), and Amanda L. Aguilera ’06 (general diagnostic and neuroradiology). This will increase the radiology faculty to 38 full-time equivalents.

Recently, two of our long-standing faculty members received recognition at the 2021 Annual Medical Staff Dinner Meeting. Glenn A. Rouse ’76-A received recognition for education, and Daniel K. Kido ’65 received professional recognition. Sheri Harder, MD, our department’s director of medical student education, is playing an increasingly active educational role within the School of Medicine. In addition, she is also developing a radiology student education curriculum and mentors the radiology medical student interest group.

In order to anticipate future needs of Loma Linda University Health, the department will be diverting a portion of its resources to the following fields within informatics: technology evaluation, 3D imaging, and machine learning/artificial intelligence. In order to gain additional expertise in artificial intelligence, graduating resident Rajeev Nowrangi ’15 will be attending the new informatics fellowship at the University of Cincinnati and plans to return to LLU and lead the radiology informatics section. We are also trying to acquire additional engineering expertise to optimize the use of our new equipment. To that end we are exploring a new relationship with the engineering department of Walla Walla University. We continue to maintain an active working relationship with Mark Haake, PhD, MRI physicist, who helped our department become a leader in the utilization of Susceptibility Weighted Imaging.

Finally, we hope to invigorate our relationships with our alumni by expanding the quality of our quarterly journal, the Radiogram, to feature more articles on new initiatives the department is taking, as well as faculty and their research. In addition, we welcome the opportunity to develop new relationships with other radiologists who are LLU alumni.

Dr. Jacobson has enjoyed teaching at Loma Linda University since 2004. In his free time he can be found spending time with his wife and children.

Dr. Achiriloaie specializes in neuroradiology and breast imaging. She completed both her residency and fellowship at Loma Linda University and has served on staff for seven years. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, traveling, and relaxing at the beach with her family.

RADIOLOGY FACULTY SPOTLIGHTS:

Daniel K. Kido ’65

Dr. Kido was born in Mountain View, California, and raised in San Francisco. He earned his undergraduate degree at Pacific Union College, where he met his future wife, Elissa. After medical school at Loma Linda University (LLU), he completed a radiology residency at USC Medical Center and a neuroradiology fellowship at NYH-Cornell Medical Center.

Dr. Kido started his career at Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School in 1976, after which he became the chief of the neuroradiology section at Strong Memorial Hospital, University of Rochester, New York, and later at Barnes Hospital, Washington University. In 2000, Dr. Kido returned to LLU as director of the neuroradiology section, where he participated in the National Institutes of Health grant to study iron deposition in the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s disease and was the director of the animal research lab in the basic sciences department. Dr. Kido retired as director of neuroradiology in 2013; however, he continued to practice neuroradiology. He maintains his position as director of research in the radiology department and continues to encourage residents and fellows to pursue academic excellence and develop an interest in research. In 2015, Dr. Kido was awarded Class of 1965 Loma Linda School of Medicine Alumnus of the Year.

Dr. Kido plans to continue to help develop a research infrastructure for the radiology department, with the primary goal of keeping radiology at the forefront of clinical care. Some exciting future plans include establishing summer fellowships in collaboration with Walla Walla University engineering students, creating an informatics department, and developing a structured model for acquiring extramural grants.

Erica L. Kinne ’08

Dr. Kinne was born and raised in Kettering, Ohio, and completed her undergraduate degree at Southern Adventist University in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She earned her medical degree at Loma Linda University (LLU) in 2008 and stayed on to complete her radiology residency at LLU, where she acted as chief resident during her senior year. Dr. Kinne completed a fellowship in musculoskeletal radiology at the University of California, San Diego. In 2014, after fellowship, Dr. Kinne returned as a musculoskeletal and body radiologist attending at LLU. In short order, she became assistant residency program director and  played a key role in assisting former program director, J. Paul Jacobson, MD, in managing and improving the radiology residency program, until recently being nominated for and accepting the residency program director position.

In her position, she has mentored and encouraged several generations of residents to excel academically and clinically, as well as personally aiding some residents in pursuing desired fellowships and career opportunities. Dr. Kinne also established the global health rotation for the radiology residency and is currently focusing on growing the opportunities for residents to serve in both the local community and abroad.

Within the larger context of the hospital, she is currently the vice president of the LLU Medical Center Medical Staff Executive Committee. In the broader world of radiology, she has been a member of the American College of Radiology Council, the legislative body that governs the College and establishes policy for all of radiology, since 2017.

Outside of work, Dr. Kinne’s interests also include running, mountain biking, golf, and traveling.